Last time I asked if there was anything we could do about death. What Can I do about Death? Or eat, drink & be merry, for tomorrow we die Can we delay its inevitability? Can we safely just ignore it altogether? Many people say, “Let’s just eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” The Big Question is: Where am I going? Is there life after death?
When I did an internet search on ‘Is there life after death?’ there were 17 500 results. Then, when I clicked on one site where a person had asked that question and admitted that they were scared of the possibilities, there were hundreds of answers.
It seems that this Big Question is being asked by lots and lots of people. It really is a Big and important question. Yet there are many different answers. It seems that every culture has its own answer to the Big Question of life after death. Different religions have different answers to that question. So, how do we know which one, if any, is true?
Is Christianity true?
That brings up the question of truth. I’ve written about truth before – you can see the links to blogs about truth below.
Obviously, this is a Christian blog. But how do I know Christianity is true? In this blog, www.Jesusontheroad.com, I want to examine The Big Questions. I don’t want to preach at you. I just want to point you to God, through His word, the Bible.
I want you to ask The Big Questions for yourself. And then hear the answers that God has given you. Don’t listen to me – listen to God. I want you to know God as your loving Father (regardless of what your earthly father was like), who never gives up on you, who wants to have an intimate and ongoing relationship with you. God pursues you like a true lover, not because you are so lovable, but because He IS love. God doesn’t love you because He needs you, He loved you before you were even born.
God loves you to death, and beyond. Because we are sinful, we don’t deserve God’s eternal love. We deserve separation from God in hell. But God sent Jesus to die for you, to pay the price for your sins. So that you can go to heaven. Not because of what you do/did, but because of what God did!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Life after death?
So, we’re back to the Big Question – Where am I going when I die?
Many of the results of my internet search said that I’m going nowhere. That I came from nothing and I’m going back there. There is nothing after death. I will just cease to exist. To me, that’s depressing. I’m just a random, cosmic accident who will live, breathe, work, love, laugh, cry, sing, create… Then sooner or later, I’ll just die. That’s it. Bang. Over. Nothing. That seems so hopeless, so empty, such a waste of time.
If there is no life after death, then why bother? Life itself seems meaningless. The Apostle Paul addresses this question:
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
According to these verses, the saving gospel is: Jesus died for our sins, he was buried, and he was raised. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth. The Corinthians knew that Jesus had been raised, but they seemed unsure about how this was relevant to them.
if Jesus was not raised from the dead, then Christianity is a lie. We won’t be raised either, and we are still lost in our sins and condemned to eternity in hell:
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
1 Corinthians 15: 13-18
We will be judged
The Bible is clear – we WILL be raised from the dead. We will all face judgement after death:
People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.
Hebrews 9:27
But the good news is that Jesus was judged for our sins. Jesus, although perfect and without sin, chose to take the rap for you. Jesus was separated from God. He went to hell, so you don’t have to. After three days, Jesus was raised from the dead. Because Jesus paid for your sins, you are now free of their eternal consequences:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Is eternal oblivion an easy way out?
The theory of eternal oblivion says that there is nothing after death. Therefore, we don’t have to fear judgement. And neither should we expect rewards. There is nothing. That seems hopeless to me and brings me no comfort thinking about my loved ones who have died.
Those who believe that there is nothing after death, console themselves with the thought that only this life matters. At a funeral, they can say, “Well, (loved one) lived a good life.” But what if the loved one didn’t live a good life? What if they had a life of trouble and pain? What if they caused grief, trouble and pain to those around them?
Maybe some might say, “They are at peace now.” But, if the Bible is true, and they didn’t believe that Jesus came to save them, then they won’t be at peace at all. They will be eternally “lost in their sins.”
What if they died young? Maybe some could say, “Well, at least they didn’t have to put up with all the trouble in this world.” That may be true, but if they rejected Jesus, they will be in eternal trouble.
I don’t deserve eternal rewards
There is some truth in saying that there are no eternal rewards. The Bible says that we must be perfect to get into heaven on our own merits:
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven…. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:20 & 48
What I really deserve is eternity without God:
The wages of sin is death.
Romans 6:23a
Wages are paid to those who have earned and deserve them. I’m a sinner. And God says that all sinners get their wages – death and eternal separation from Him. We call that ‘hell’.
But I don’t want to go to hell!
The only way we can get into heaven is if someone pays the price for us. We can’t pay the price for ourselves, no matter how hard we try, or how good we think we are. Thank the Lord, Jesus has paid the price for us:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Do I have a choice?
You don’t have a choice about death. It will come.
You are free to choose what you want to believe about life after death. God doesn’t force anyone to believe in Him. He has given us free will.
You do have a choice about where you spend eternity. The Bible teaches that we will all be raised from death. We will all live forever in eternity. But those who don’t believe that Jesus saved them will not be living with God in heaven:
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
Matthew 25:46
Choose wisely
So, ‘Where am I going after death?’ is a very important question. It’s a question that must be answered while you are alive. It will be too late after death. Remember, Jesus died for everyone. Jesus died for you! He wants you to have the free gift of eternal life. He’s already paid for you. And He’s got your room in heaven already prepared:
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:2-3
All you have to do is trust that promise.